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About 184,800 of the 776,330 people who started receiving the new state pension in 2024/25 were entitled to less than the maximum weekly rate, according to figures MoneyWeek obtained from the DWP. People with gaps in their National Insurance record may be able to increase their pension by paying voluntary contributions, but eligibility and whether a payment will raise their pension depend on individual circumstances.
About 184,800 people who began receiving the new state pension in the 2024/25 tax year were entitled to less than the maximum weekly rate, according to figures MoneyWeek obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions. The figures show why people with gaps in their National Insurance record may ask whether they can top up their pension, although paying voluntary contributions does not automatically raise everyone’s entitlement.
MoneyWeek said its Freedom of Information request found that 776,330 people started receiving the new state pension in 2024/25. Of those, 591,530, or 76%, were entitled to the full weekly rate of £221.20 then in force. The remaining roughly 24%—about 184,800 people—qualified for less. These are figures for new claimants in that tax year, not all pensioners receiving the state pension.
People may be able to increase their state pension by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions for eligible years missing from their record. Whether that is possible, which years can be filled and whether doing so increases the eventual pension depend on the person’s contribution history and circumstances. A gap on a record alone does not show that paying to fill it would be worthwhile or permitted.
Before paying, people should check their National Insurance record and their state pension forecast through official government services, and confirm with the relevant department which years can be topped up and what effect a payment would have. The reported figures do not say how many of the people receiving less than the maximum had gaps that could be filled, or how many could improve their pension through voluntary payments.
How Pension Gaps Affect Entitlement
The figures show that receiving less than the maximum is not unusual among people newly claiming the new state pension: about one in four in the reported group did not qualify for the full £221.20 weekly rate. A lower entitlement can mean less regular income in retirement, so understanding a National Insurance record before or around claiming can matter to household budgeting.
However, the figures do not establish that all those people could have raised their entitlement by paying extra. A top-up is a decision with a cost, and the benefit depends on the individual record and pension forecast. Checking first can help prevent people from paying for years that will not increase their entitlement or that they are not eligible to fill.
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The 2024/25 New Pension Figures
The reported figures concern people who began claiming the new state pension during the 2024/25 tax year. The maximum weekly amount cited by MoneyWeek was £221.20, the rate at the time. The proportion receiving less is calculated from the figures reported: 776,330 new claimants in total and 591,530 entitled to the maximum.
The new state pension amount a person receives is linked to their National Insurance record, but the MoneyWeek report does not break down why each claimant received less. It also does not provide a count of people who used voluntary contributions, were eligible to use them, or saw their entitlement rise after paying. The data therefore indicate the scale of below-maximum awards among new claimants, rather than the potential impact of top-ups.
“76% (591,530) were entitled to the maximum weekly rate at the time of £221.20.”
— MoneyWeek, reporting figures received from the Department for Work and Pensions
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Who Could Benefit From Top-Ups
The source figures do not explain why individuals received less than the maximum, whether they had National Insurance gaps, or whether those gaps were eligible for voluntary contributions. They also do not show how many people would gain from making a payment, how much any individual would need to pay, or the resulting change in pension entitlement.
The reported £221.20 rate applies to the 2024/25 tax year; it should not be treated as the current rate for a later year. The source material also does not specify the rules or deadlines applicable to a particular person’s record. Individual eligibility and the effect of a payment need to be checked with official services before any decision is made.
voluntary National Insurance contributions
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Check Your Record Before Paying
Anyone considering a top-up should first review their National Insurance record and state pension forecast using official government services. They should then confirm which contribution years, if any, can be filled and whether doing so would change the pension forecast. The DWP figures reported by MoneyWeek highlight the number of new claimants receiving less than the maximum, but do not provide an individual assessment or establish that a top-up is available to every person in that group.
The next practical step is therefore a personal record check, rather than assuming that every missing year can be bought or that every payment raises the pension. The source report gives no further breakdown or follow-up timetable for the figures, so details about individual eligibility must come from the relevant official records and guidance.
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Key Questions
Can you top up your state pension?
Some people may increase their entitlement by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions for eligible missing years. Whether you can do so, and whether it would raise your pension, depends on your individual record and circumstances.
How many new claimants received less than the maximum in 2024/25?
MoneyWeek reported that about 184,800 people, roughly 24% of the 776,330 people who began claiming the new state pension that tax year, qualified for less than the maximum.
What was the maximum weekly rate in the figures?
The maximum rate cited for the 2024/25 tax year was £221.20 a week. That is the rate reported for that period, not necessarily the rate for a later year.
Does a National Insurance gap mean a top-up will increase my pension?
No. The reported figures do not show that every gap can be filled or that every payment would increase entitlement. Check your official National Insurance record and pension forecast, and confirm the effect of a payment before paying.
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